Trooper who released bombing photos not really a hero

Sgt. Sean Murphy, a state police photographer, has become a hero to many, not because he exemplifies the professionalism of his office, but because he dishonors it.

Sgt. Murphy is the state trooper who leaked several bloody departmental photos depicting Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects.

The trooper wasn't happy that Rolling Stone magazine ran a cover photo he believed glamorized the suspected terrorist, so, in his self-appointed role as the purveyor of justice, he set things right by releasing the departmental photos.

"This guy is evil," the sergeant told Boston Magazine, to which he had leaked the photos. "This is the real Boston bomber. Not someone fluffed and buffed for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine."

Thousands of people, including posters on Facebook, have lauded Sgt. Murphy for what many describe as his "courageous" decision to release the photos.

"Thank you trooper for all you do," one poster, who identified himself as Bill Murphy, a pharmacy technician at Village Fertility Pharmacy, wrote. "You guys are on the front lines every day and what you did in response to Rolling Stone magazine took courage. How dare they give that piece of garbage any sort of recognition? This kid should be demonized, not glorified on the cover of a magazine."

Joanne Graziosi, another poster, thanked the trooper "for the courage that you showed in having those pictures printed."

"They show me that terrorists will not get away in Massachusetts. You should be given a medal instead of possibly losing your job."

"God bless you and protect you .To your supervisors: I plead for mercy for Sgt. Murphy. Please do not fire him. He is an American FIRST!"

These posters fail to see, or simply will not accept, that while Sgt. Murphy works for the state, it is not his prerogative to determine for the state who is evil, and who the real Boston bomber is. There is an elaborate legal process in place to assist the state in making those determinations.

In the wake of the haunting and horrific Boston bombings, the unlawful release of state police department photos of the suspect might seem an emotional but benign move by the trooper, until you consider the implication of allowing individual law enforcement officials to decide outside of the judicial system what is right or wrong, that is, essentially to become their own judge and jury.

What is the difference between Sgt. Murphy unlawfully releasing the photos, and one of his colleagues perhaps one day executing a suspect, because the suspect was a repeat offender and thus, in the officer's mind, a "loser"?

There is no difference. Both represent unlawful actions, breach of professionalism, and a danger to a just society.

Sgt. Murphy's superior, Col. Timothy P. Alben, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, said as much in an email last week.

"The unauthorized dissemination of evidence and commentary by a department member concerning any criminal investigation or department action  in this case prosecution of a federally indicted defendant  serves only to undermine constitutional guarantees and potentially violates rules of federal criminal procedure that we, as law enforcement officers, have sworn to uphold."

Of course, you can rest assured that Sgt Murphy will not be fired, and it will not be because of divine intervention, as requested by Ms. O'Donnell. It will be because such breaches of conduct by law enforcement officials are seldom addressed with the gravity they deserve.